Apparatus for exhausting air



' LEARY Sept. 23, 1930. w, c, o

APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING AIR Original Filed Mai'ch 5, 1927 n m u T T. A

Y I em Patented Sept. 23, 1930 sir'rias PATENTLO FF CE ,f1:

WILLIAM G. OLEARY, orwA sHINeronjnIs'rR or on COLUMBIA APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING AIR Application fi1ed ,March 5, 1927, Serial No. 173,204. Re1iewed August 9, 1928.

hausting of air from an "enclosedspace to 10 such an extent to createa substantlally per feet vacuumtherein I v 7 With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel em-,

bodiment of an apparatus as hereinafter more specifically described and. illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications relative to the method, as well as to the apparatus, can be resorted to which ,go fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended. a v

.In the drawings f wherein like refer- Y ence characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

1 Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus in accordance with this invention. Figures 2 to 5 are vertical sectional views of the apparatus illustrating the sequence of steps when exhausting.-

Figures 6 and 7 are upon an enlarged scale and in section illustrating details of the apparatus.

I The apparatus includes a lower receptacle 2. The receptacle 2 has a rounded top and bottom and provides a chamber 38 for liquid.

The receptacle 2 is formed with a valved drain pipe 39 and said receptacle 2 at its top is formed with an opening 40in which is secured a short vertically disposed, valved, liq- I 40 uid conducting pipe 41, which opens into the bottom of the upper receptacle 3 and the latter provides a chamber 39 for liquid.

The top of the receptacle 3 is formed with an opening 42, wliich communicateswith a stand pipe or liquid receiver 43 of the desired height and which is closed at its top, asindicated at 44. The top 44flof the stand pipe 43 is provided with apressure gauge 45 which communicates with a valve mechanism 46, an

air escape valve device 47 and a valve mechafragmentary views nism 48 which communicates with a suction line 49. The top 44 ofthe stand pipe 43 is rounded or dome shaped and has its inner face of the same contour as itsouterface. The inner face ofithe top is formed with a is shown and is indicated at 43 Figure 6..

'The valve m'echanismsl46 and 47, include acasing 44 which projects outwardly from the rounded top of stand pipe. 43. Eachcasing 6,0, 44' opens into a concavitiyandhas its inner end flush with and forms a continuation of the wall of the latter. See, Figure 6. The" inner end of casing 44 is provided with a valve seat 45 for a valve 46 carried on the inner end of an adjusting stem which pro: jects from theouter end of the casing 44 and is operated exteriorly of the latter. The pressure gauge45 opening into the casing 44 of valve mechanism 46 and the pipe or line 49 opens into the valve mechanism48, The air escape valvedevice47 is positioned at the highest point of top44, opens into s t-andpipe 43 centrally of top f44 and has the valvular element thereof spaced from stand pipe 43. Nhen'valves 46 are'seated, they form continuations of the inner ends of casings 44. Extending from the bottom of the receptacle 2 to the bottom of the receptacle 3 isa by-pass 50 provided intermediate its ends with the pump element 6 The upper end of the by-pass 50 is provided with a cut-Voif51. Communicating with the by-pass 50 in proximity to the receptacle 2 isa liquid supply line 4, formed in proximity to the pumping element with a cut-off 52. With reference to Figure 7, the pump element 6 has its cylinder formed by afpart of the length of the by-pass 50 and such part of the by-pass is indicated at 54.;- That part of the bypass 54 which forms th eicylinder" of the pump element is disposed at an upward inclination and the outeriend thereof is so constructed so as not. to interfere withthep assage of the liquidlor rather notto obstruct the passage of the li quid when lifted from the receptacle 2 to the receptacle 3. The pump element 6 further includes a piston 55 provided with check'valves 66 which; on the inward move 'inent of the piston 55 open forthe passage of pair of spaced concavities, only-one of which means. The by-pass 50 is formed with an extension 68, formed with an opening 69 for the passage of a rodfif. .For the purpose of forming a seal-tight joint'the extension 68has connected therewith a cup member-7Q which projects therefrom to provide a liquid container 71 adapted tocontaina sealingliquid 72. The cup is formed with a valved supply opening 7 7 3 anda valved discharge outlet 74 for the purpose respectively of supplying liquid and discharging it from the chamber formed with thecup. The piston rod 67 projects outwardly throughthe cup 70 and a packing means 74- is mounted in the cup and secured thereby by a gland 75. B'y this arrangement air is arrested from entering the pumping element 6 during the "reciprocation of the piston 55.

The liquid issupplied tothe receptacles 2, 3, s'tandpipe andby-pass so as to completely fill the same as shown inF-igure 1. After thesaid elements have been filled the valve 52 is closed. The valve 41 is then closed and the valve 39 opened so that a portion of the liquid in the chamber 38 will be removed and the body ofliquid will appear as in Figure 2. The valve 41 is thenopened and a portion of-the liquid in the chamber 39 is the'recieptacle 3 as-shown in F igureat.

discharged into the chamber 38 as shown in F igure'3 whereby all the liquid is discharge-d from'the stand'pipe 43, see-Figure 3. After this step the liquid is entirely removed frlom he receptacles'2 and'3 and stand pipe 43 is then filled with liquidas-shown in Figure 2.

Before allowing the liquid to enter the chamber 38 the latter, as well as the chamber 39 and standpipe 5 are exhausted of air by apump adapted to be attached to the pipe 47. When the valve 52,'in line 4 is opened, as

' well as the valves 41 and 51, the liquid slowly rises in the'receptacles 2, 3, stand pipe 5 and by-pass I50, completely fills. the same, and oozes through the escape valve 47 thereby forcingout'the air. The valves 41, 51 and 52 are the'n'closed and the drain 39 opened to permit of about two thirds of the liquid to slowly discharge from the chamber 38. The slowly dischargingliquid leaves'a vacuum space aboveit amounting to about two thirds the capacity of the chamber 38. The drain 39 is then closed. This operation is the division of a large volume of heavy deaerated liquid-in a sealed container and the space" vacated will be as near a perfect vacuum as is'p'ossible, as all the valves and pipe connections are air tight.

The two thirds of the chamber 38 free of 'the-liquid,'provides a vacuum which equals in cubical contents the chamber 39' and the stand pipe. The valve 41 is then opened and the liquid from the stand pipe and chamber 39 falls rapidly into the chamber 38 to the extent to fill two thirds of the chamber 38 whereby a vacuum is formed in the stand pipe and the upper portion of the chamber 39, as well as the upper portion of the chamber 38. A further discharge of the liquid from the chamber 39 into the chamber 38 will provide forthe transferring of the vacuum from the chamber 38 to the chamber 39 and stand pipe 5 and the apparatus will be as shown in Figure 4. ,A substantially perfect vacuum will then be formed in the standpipe and chamber 39. Then, by attaching the pipe 49 to an enclosed space, it will be evacuated of air. The exhausted air from the enclosed space which enters the stand pipe and chamber 39 is discharged therefrom by lifting the liquid from the chamber 38 through the by-pass for the purpose-0f completely filling the chamber 39 and the stand pipe whereby such air will be forced or discharged through the escape valve 47. The pumping element 6 provides for the lifting of the liquid. 7 lVhen the liquid is lifted from the chamber 38 to the chamber 39 the Valve 41 is closed. The lifting step of the method is for the purpose of filling the chamber 39 and stand pipe and after completion thereof the apparatus appears as shown in Figure 5, which corresponds to Figure 2. After the air has been exhausted from the chamber 39 and stand pipe, the method is continued so that the'apparatus will appear 'as'shown in Figure 3 and then-as shown in Figure a; and when the apparatus, with the liquid, is as shown in Figure i, the exhausting or rather the evacuation of air from'the enclosed space can be had. It will be perceived that the method is a circulating one, with respect to the liquid, and that the liquid never comes in contact with air except at normal pressure infinitesimally at the escape valve.

By repeated rising and falling of the liquid an extremely high vacuum can be obtained in any connected structure, as the method will obtain any result desired short of the absolute. The vacuum in the apparatus constantly is renewed and if any air or gas remains in the liquid after it is de-aerated it would tend to escape into the vacuum space and will be pushed out the'escape valve as fast as formed. The liquid will not absorb or become mixed with air because it never comes in contact with air except at the surface when rising and the force of gravity would effectually prevent mixture. The walls of the receptacles would be thick, and would serve a double purpose of resisting the penetration of air and airpressure.

The constructing of the receptacles with rounded tops and bottoms resists air pres- Or I sure! Anyair remaining in the receptacles 2, 3, and standpipe '5 is exhausted therefrom in the necessary quantity tocompletely fill said receptacles 2, 3 and stand pipe 5 and the air which is discharged by the action of the liquid is forced through the escape valve 47.

The liquid, during the action 'ofthe exhausting air from the receptacles '2, 3,- and stand pipe I); rises slightly above the valvular element of the escape valve mechanism 47 where itacts asa sealing mediuin and makes the valve mechanism thoroughly efficient to pr'event any intake of air in the stand pipe.

It is thought the many advantages of an exhausting apparatusin accordance with this invention can be readily understood, and although thepreferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet

ing a sub-structure containing a liquid supply, a stand pipe arising from the sub-structure and having a'rounded top, an escape valve device at the extreme of said rounded top, a valve casing extended from said rounded top and opening into the stand pipe,

an exhaust pipe opening into said caslng, an

exhaust valve operating in said casing for closing the inner end of the latter, means extending into the casing from without for r operating the valve, the inner end of said casing and said valve providing when the latter is in closing position a COIltlIlUELtlOIL of 'the inner face of said top, said sub-structure including means for raising and lowering the liquid in the stand pipe to any degree and acting recurrently under control, thereby causing a liquid column to rise and fall in the stand pipe and providing an accurately fitting air pumping piston capable when raised of making complete contact with the top of the stand pipe and thevalves for expelling substantially all the air through the escape valve device and when lowered creating a vacuum space substantially free of air.

2. An exhaustingapparatus comprising an upper and a lower receptacle impervious to air and adapted to receive a liquidfunctionestablishing communication between the bot tom of the upperand top of the lower recep tacle, a valve controlled by-pass impervious to air, communicating with the lower por tions'of said receptacles and Provided with means for elevating the liquid in the upper receptacle, a stand pipe impervious to air,

opening at its lower end into said upper receptacle and normally closed at its upper end, escape and suction valve elements at the upper ends of said stand pipe, a liquid conductor leading froma source of supplyand openmg into said valve controlled by-pass below said means, and a valve controlled dramfor said lower receptacle.

3. An exhausting apparatus comprising an upper and a lower receptacle impervious to air fand'adaptedto receive a liquid functioning'as apiston,a valvecontrolled pipe for establishing communication between the bottomof the upperand top of the lower receptacle, valve controlled bypass impervious to air, communicating with the lower, portions of said receptacles and provided with I means for elevating the liquid in the upper receptacle, astand pipe impervious to air, opening at its lower end nto said upper re ceptacle and normally closed at its upper end,

escape and suction valve elements at the upper endof said stand pipe, a liquid conductorleadingfrom a source of supply and opening into said valve controlled by-pass below said means, and a valve controlled drain for posed between said receptacles for establishing communication therebetween, a stand pipe opening at its'lower end into said upper receptacle, adapted to receive the liquid from the latter and normally closed at its upper end, escape andsuction valve elements at theupper endo f said stand pipe, a valve controlled means for elevating the liquid from the'lower to the upperreceptacle, a valve controlled liquid conductingmeans for opening into said valve controlled means for supplying liquidthereto, said valve'controlled pipe provided for the discharge of liquid from the stand pipe into the'upper receptacle and from the latter into the lower receptacle to form a vacuum in thestand pipe and upper receptacle for exhausting air from a closed space through said suction element to provide a substantially perfect vacuum in said space, and said lower receptacle provided with a valve controlled drainpipe.

' 5. An air exhausting apparatus comprising a sub-structure containing a'liquid sup ply, a stand pipe for receiving liquid from said sub-structure and closed at its upper end, a controllable, valved air escape device communicating with said stand pipe through the top'thereof and having its valve element positionedexteriorly of'the inner face of said pipe, a suction line controllable device of the valved type communicating with said pipe through the top thereof and having its valve'element arranged exteriorly of the inner faceof said pipe, said valve elements positioned in the path of the liquid supplied to said pipe, means within the sub-structure for raising the liquid into the stand pipeto any degree required, and meansfor lowering the i liquid from the stand pipe, the said means acting recurrently under control, thereby providing an accurately fitting air pumping piston from said liquid capable of making complete contact with the inner face of the top of the stand pipe and with said valve .elements for respectively expelling substantially all air through the air escape device and for creating a vacuum space in said pipe substantially free ofiair; V

6. An air exhausting apparatus comprising a sub-structurecontaining a-liquid supply, a stand pipe forreceiving liquid from said sub-structure and closed at its upper end, a controllable, valved air escape device communicating with said stand pipe through the top thereof and having its'valve element positioned eXteriorly of the inner face of said pipe, a suction line controllable device of the valved type communicating with said pipe through the top thereof and having its valve element arranged exteriorly of the inner'faceof said pipe, said valve elements positioned in the path of the liquid supplied to said pipe, means within the sub-structure for raising the liquid into the stand pipe to any degree required, and means for lowering'the liquid from the stand pipe, the said means acting recurrently under control,

thereby providing an accurately fitting air pumping piston vfrom said liquid capable of making complete contact with the inner face of the top of the stand pipe and with said valve elements for respectively. expelling'substantially all air through the air escape device and for creating a vacuum space in said pipe substantially free of air, the inner face of said stand pipe at its top being rounded, said air escapedevice being'positioned'cem trally of the top of the stand pipe, said eX- haust conducting device positioned at the top of the stand pipe adjacent the air escape device.

'7. An air exhausting apparatus comprising a sub-structure containing a liquidsupply, a stand pipe for receiving liquid from said sub-structure and closed at its upper end, a controllable, valved air escape device communicating-with said stand pipe through the top thereof and having its valve element positioned exteriorly of the inner face of said pipe, a valve housing extending outwardly from the top of and opening into said pipe, said casing having its inner .end provided with a valve seat, a suction valve element operating against-said seat for closing the housing to the ,pipe, a controllable'rod for and carrying the second valve element and projecting outwardly from said housing, an exhaust conducting line opening into said housing, the inner end of said housing being flush with the inner face of said pipe. the valve element in said housing being flush, whenseated' with the inner end of said housing, said valveelements positioned in the path capable of making complete contact with the inner face of theitop of .the stand pipe and with said valve elements for respectively ex pelling substantially all air through the air escape device and for creating a vacuum space in said pipe substantially" free'of air. I

In testimony whereof, I afiixn mysignature hereto.

' ILLIAM OLEARY, 

